Sunday, December 30, 2012

Destroying evidence? Shredding documents? Alerting records? You might want to reconsider participating in such action by ANY employer.

December 17, 12012 -United States District Judge Robert G. Doumar sentenced Lynette Smith of Suffolk, VA to 10 months in prison for altering records to conceal Medicaid fraud The fraud was committed by A Caring Hand Home Health Care Services, Inc. between January 2008 through October 2011. A Caring Hand is owned and operated by Janice W. Holland.

“Holland submitted to the program approximately 900 fraudulent claims for payment representing that respite care services had been provided to thirty (30) Medicaid recipients, when in fact no such services had actually been provided. As a result, Holland obtained health care benefit payments totaling approximately $630,000 to which she was not entitled.

During the period from in or about September 2010 through October 6, 2011, Holland and Smith, and members of the staff of A Caring Hand at their direction, altered, falsified and made false entries in the office records of A Caring Hand to conceal and cover up the fact that Holland had submitted false and fraudulent claims for payment to the Virginia Medicaid program. On multiple occasions, Holland and Smith met with staff members and directed them to alter, falsify and make false entries into office records, including the creation of false and fraudulent time sheets, in order to make it appear that the respite care services for which Holland had billed the program had actually occurred, when in fact they knew that no such services had been provided. Approximately twelve staff members knowingly committed the alteration and falsification of office records at the direction of Holland and Smith, who were aware of an upcoming scheduled audit of the office records. Holland and Smith committed these acts with the intent to impede, obstruct and influence the proper administration of the Virginia Medicaid program, which is a matter within the jurisdiction of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Holland has pled guilty to health care fraud, alteration of records and aggravated identity theft, and will be sentenced on January 22, 2013.”